Lewis Atkinson MP: Breakfast Clubs in Sunderland will leave parents better off and children ready to learn

Labour’s Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which I voted for last month, legislated to create these clubs and I’m delighted our city is an early adopter of the scheme.

This week’s announcement is a testament to the determined work of Sunderland's Bridget Phillipson, Secretary of State for Education and the Labour Government.

Seven schools across Sunderland have been chosen as part the first phase of the national roll out including: Barnwell Academy, Fatfield Academy, St Leonard’s Catholic Primary School in Silksworth, St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Hudson Road Primary School, Dame Dorothy Primary School, and Richard Avenue too.

From April, these schools will provide children with a free breakfast and at least 30 minutes of free childcare, giving parents that extra bit of flexibility during the hectic school run. And this just the start. These clubs will be introduced in all primary schools across the city.

For families, breakfast clubs are a game-changer. Not only do they provide a nutritious start to the day for kids, but they also give parents a valuable childcare option during busy mornings. It may seem like a simple idea and scheme, but breakfast clubs have a huge impact on the wellbeing of all children and are proven to boost attendance, attainment, behaviour and readiness for school. Crucially, this announcement also aims to support working parents, with families set to save £450 a year.

There’s another important element to this policy: it will help Labour bear down on the levels of child poverty that were left far too high by the Conservatives

Under the previous government, breakfast clubs were only available in around one in ten primary schools, leaving too many children to fall between the cracks.

No child should have to go to school hungry. Our children deserve better. I know that and this government knows that.

That’s why Labour will make these clubs available for all our children, in every school across the country. Regardless of where they live or their family’s income, this government wants to give every child the opportunity to do their best.

I’m looking forward to visiting the schools involved in my patch of the city and I’ll be monitoring the results we see from them closely so that the benefits can be applied to all of Sunderland’s schools.